Screwdriver for handling a screw in the body of a person or an animal

Abstract

A screwdriver serves for handling a screw in the body of a person or an animal. The screwdriver has a handle, and a stem permanently connected to said handle. An outer tube surrounds the stem. A locking mechanism has a locking element engaging into a locking point in at least three different axial displacement positions of said outer tube. The locking element is prevented from moving further in an axial direction at a locking position by a barrier, which barrier can be overcome only by rotating said outer tube and said stem relative to one another about a longitudinal axis.

1. A screwdriver for handling a screw in a body of a person or an animal, comprising:
 a handle, 
 a stem permanently connected to said handle, said stem having a distal end to which a screw can be fitted, 
 an outer tube surrounding said stem, and 
 a locking mechanism for locking said outer tube in at least three different axial displacement positions relative to said stem, said locking mechanism having a locking element engaging into a locking point in each of said at least three different axial displacement positions of said outer tube, wherein 
 said locking element is prevented from moving further in an axial direction at each locking point by a barrier, said barrier can be overcome only by rotating said outer tube and said stem relative to one another about a longitudinal axis, said locking element runs in a guide whose path deviates from a longitudinal axis by an angle α from one locking point to a next locking point, resulting in a stepped path, said stepped path having a locking point at a maximal advanced axial displacement position, and wherein said stepped path is connected to a return path extending from said maximal axial displacement position backwards to a level of a proximal end of said stepped path, and wherein said return path runs beside said stepped path. 
 
     
     
       2. The screwdriver of  claim 1 , wherein said angle α is about 30° to about 90°. 
     
     
       3. The screwdriver of  claim 2 , wherein said angle is approximately 90°. 
     
     
       4. The screwdriver of  claim 1 , wherein said path is embodied as a groove in said outer tube. 
     
     
       5. The screwdriver of  claim 4 , wherein said groove is embodied as a stepped groove. 
     
     
       6. The screwdriver of  claim 1 , wherein said locking element is embodied as a pin. 
     
     
       7. The screwdriver of  claim 6 , wherein said pin is a spring-loaded pin. 
     
     
       8. The screwdriver of  claim 1 , wherein said locking element projects from an inner side of said handle. 
     
     
       9. The screwdriver of  claim 1 , wherein said locking points are arranged at a proximal end section of said outer tube. 
     
     
       10. The screwdriver of  claim 1 , wherein a proximal end section of said outer tube can be rotated about a longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       11. The screwdriver of  claim 10 , wherein said rotatably proximal end section of said outer tube is connected to a coupling which runs freely to the right or to the left for rotating said outer tube. 
     
     
       12. The screwdriver of  claim 1 , wherein said outer tube is connected to said handle in a removable fashion. 
     
     
       13. The screwdriver of  claim 1 , wherein said locking points are embodied as depressions in said path. 
     
     
       14. The screwdriver of  claim 1 , wherein four locking points are provided. 
     
     
       15. The screwdriver of  claim 1 , wherein a groove which is open at its proximal end is formed from a proximal end of said outer tube up to a first locking point. 
     
     
       16. The screwdriver of  claim 1 , wherein a groove, which is open at its proximal end is formed from a last locking point to a proximal end of said outer tube.